The French Malbec pioneer Georges Vigouroux died a few days ago at the age of 83. The famous winemaker is also considered one of the most important people who brought the Cahors wine region in southwest France back to life after the phylloxera damage at the beginning of the 20th century. The most important red wine variety there is the Malbec, which is called Côt or Auxerrois there. In 1971 Vigouroux bought the Château de Haut Serre in Cahors, which at that time only covered 440 hectares, and recultivated the long abandoned vineyards. With his great success, many other new businesses were created there, bringing back viticulture.
In 1983 he bought the Château de Mercuès hotel, expanded it with a winery and the fine restaurant "Le Dueze". With this project he is also considered one of the early pioneers of wine tourism in France. For about ten years his son has been running the company with a total of four wineries.
(uka)